Judges 2023

Bhavesh Patel is currently the Chief Digital Officer at beIN Media Group based in Paris. He is working on building their next generation global OTT platform and driving innovation across the group. Prior, Bhavesh was an OTT strategy advisor for CBS Studios International and Verizon Go90, headed up Betfair’s US horserace wagering business, and led the launch of FOX Soccer 2 Go and NBA International League Pass.

Kim joined the Foxtel Group in 2019 after spending two seasons at Cricket Australia as Head of Big Bash Leagues (BBL), which included delivering the first ever standalone Women’s BBL final with a sold-out crowd. Prior to this, she spent 15 years with PepsiCo, most recently as Head of Sports Marketing based at their global HQ in New York, leading initiatives such as the Pepsi Superbowl Halftime Show. Kim was appointed Marketing Director of Kayo Sports in October 2020, leading brand management and go to market strategy for Australia’s leading sports streaming business.

Barney is EVP, IMG Global Production & Studios. He has a 28 year career in broadcasting and content with over 2 decades at Sky as well as spells at BBC and ITV.

After junior spells at ITV and BBC, Barney became Sky Sports Executive Producer, Cricket (2000-2007) and Executive Producer, Premier League (2007-2008) before becoming Managing Director, Sky Sports in 2009.

Transformed Sky Sports from 4 channels to 11, adding such premium rights as F1, The Open, The Masters and NBA as well as securing 3 x Premier League renewals and 3 x ECB renewals. In 10 years Sky Sports won 3 BAFTAs, 6 RTS Awards, and 2 Broadcast Awards.

In Nov 2021, Barney joined IMG.

Carsten has been Director Media Production at DFL Digital Sports since 2019 and in this role is responsible for the Bundesliga’s video and photo production. He joined DFL Digital Sports in 2014 as Head of Broadcast & Video Content and previously held editorially responsible positions at various TV stations (Sport1, LIGA total!) and Red Bull Media House.

With over 20 years’ experience in F1, Pete has led numerous key technical areas such as IT, Electronics, Software, Research & Development, Digital Delivery, Digital Technology and Digital Operations. In each of these cases driving the evolution of the F1 Eco system. Breaking new ground for Formula 1 Pete recently headed up the division responsible for delivering the transformation of F1’s digital platforms all the way through to developing innovative solutions that facilitate new and exciting content to the full range of F1 products, including live
broadcast. Currently, Pete is focused on a new leadership role spearheading Strategic Technical Ventures within F1. Pete focuses on driving F1’s strategic technical goals with a future facing role that will deliver real innovation and technical change, through the utilisation of strong technical partnerships.

Pete is passionate about pushing the boundaries of existing technologies in addition to leveraging those technologies, ensuring they achieve real business gain and increase fan engagement in the exciting and challenging environment of F1.

Achievements include: Leading teams to deliver the F1 Standard Communication System ( Telemetry, video and data solution). Leading teams to deliver new Digital platforms for F1, including F1.com (website), F1 app and F1’s first ever direct to consumer video streaming service (OTT platform).

Pamela Duckworth, an award-winning executive producer with extensive experience across all production disciplines and brand marketing, is head of Fubo Sports Network, the live, free-to-consumer TV network featuring sports stories on and off the field.

Duckworth is responsible for all creative direction including original programming on the Network, which was launched by sports-first live TV streaming platform FuboTV in 2019. Fubo Sports Network’s award-winning original programming includes “No Chill with Gilbert Arenas,” “Getcha Popcorn Ready with T.O. and Hatch” hosted by Terrell Owens and Matthew Hatchette and chat show “Drinks With Binks” hosted by Julie Stewart-Binks.

My name is Miguel Buhigas. I have been part of the Olympic family for more than 7 years. I am currently Broadcaster Service Manager at Olympic Broadcasting Services-OBS, Host broadcaster of the Olympic Summer and Winter Games, Youth games and Paralympic games. I have been part of OBS Broadcaster Service team in the Rio 2016, PyeongChang 2018, Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic games. In my role we are OBS’s main point of contact for the Rights Holding Broadcasters worldwide, managing their overall service needs and requests before and during the Games, channelling their projects through OBS and ensuring the quality of the technical aspects. Always aiming to bring the RHB Olympic projects and platforms to the next level. With special emphasis I have been leading the Paralympic games RHB projects within OBS.

Shannon is the Vice President, Sports Marketing and Media for USPA Global Licensing Inc. as well as for Global Polo Entertainment, the sports marketing division of USPA Global Licensing. Shannon graduated from the University of North Florida, where she received her B.A. in Marketing.
Shannon began her career in professional golf in 2007, starting at the PGA TOUR as a Marketing Coordinator overseeing multi-million-dollar brand sponsorships. She quickly moved up to a new-business development role where she pursued strategic companies with which to partner. After only one year, Shannon was promoted again to a management role in the corporate marketing division of the PGA TOUR. While in this role, she managed several blue-chip companies and built strategies for brands in sports and entertainment. This led to a position with the PGA of America, a membership organization that coordinates major golfing events with grassroots marketing efforts. In this four-year role, Shannon built marketing strategies around the events, created television and print publication advertising and maximized goals for the brand partnerships with the Ryder Cup and PGA Championship. Her successful sports marketing career included a stint with the Michael Jordan Celebrity Golf tournament.
Groomed to lead the new direction of the business of polo, Shannon was recruited in 2015 to lead the sports marketing and media arm for the sport of polo in the U.S. and to promote the global authentic connection to the sport for the official apparel brand, U.S. Polo Assn.
To change the course of history for the sport of polo in the U.S., the first order of business was to innovate and evolve the United States Polo Association media and top-event platforms. With Shannon’s influence and support, Global Polo Entertainment (GPE) was formed as a sports division within the company to foster sponsorships, media rights and brand marketing development for the sport of polo. Under Shannon’s leadership, the first ever three part high-goal event series – THE GAUNTLET OF POLO – was developed to drive awareness for the sport of polo and the top-rated tournaments in the United States, attract a new fan base, and further the connection to U.S. Polo Assn. Shannon led a team of internal staff and external consultants to change the trajectory of the sport and to increase access via digital and linear television. For more than nine months, Shannon led a team to create the new GAUNTLET OF POLO brand, including the brand identity, brand story and pillars, logo designs, brand style guide, IP guidelines, brand tool kits, curated brand assets, and custom brand measurement analytics dashboard platforms. The brand resonated with all constituents and stakeholders and was widely adopted by players, teams, clubs, media, fans and sponsors.
In 2019, Shannon led the effort to launch the first of its kind OTT Network, Global Polo TV, a premier destination for all polo content and the world’s largest content library. The new platform that is accessible across several apps and television platforms provided the sport of polo a home. In 2022, Shannon and Global Polo Entertainment negotiated a deal with the ESPN Family of Brands to deliver the newly created made for television shows, Global Polo Show, where Shannon creates the polo stories to share with non-polo audience. The show was previously televised with strategic media partners around the world, on beIN Sports, Horse & Country, Rurual Channel and now will live on ESPN.com. In addition to the made for television shows, ESPN signed up to carry seven of the top USPA Official Events on linear and digital television around the world, including BT Sports and ESPN India.
Shannon’s sports marketing and media leadership has secured a one-stop destination for all polo players, a brand-new location for the top events and a great opportunity for non-polo fans to access real stories of polo families, polo players and polo clubs from around the world. Her expertise and determination in branding, social and digital marketing, live and produced television, media partnerships and sponsorship relationships has and will continue to help the sport of polo globally.

Technologist in the Sports Industry for over 5 years, previously in Financial Services for over 20 years. Lead all Data and AI efforts for our sports business at Microsoft.